Mobile Banking Security Tips

Treat your mobile device as you would your wallet. You wouldn’t leave your wallet on a table in a public place and walk away. Your mobile device contains personal, private information that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands – and if you’re banking with it, it ISyour wallet.

Secure your mobile device with a password or a PIN. This will make it more difficult for an unauthorized individual to access it and the personal information it contains.

Set your mobile device to lock when not in use and to require a password or PIN to unlock it

Avoid using easily identifiable personal information for your password or PIN, such as a pet’s name or a birth date

Use symbols and numbers to make passwords more complex

Change your password or PIN frequently

Take advantage of the other security features on your mobile device.

Enable features like Find My Phone, remote disable and wipe, and encryption if they are available

Set the security options on your phone to NOT auto-fill your User IDs or passwords

Ask your mobile provider what anti-virus or other security apps are offered and download and use them

Be careful how you use your mobile device.

Do not “root” or “jailbreak” your mobile device; this alters the firmware on the device and could make it vulnerable to malicious code

Do not email or text message any personal information or login credentials; we will never ask you for this information via email or text

Do not share your mobile banking login credentials with any unauthorized person

Do not click on links or scan QR codes about which you are unsure

Be cautious when downloading apps:

Download only from reputable sources such as your provider’s app store to avoid infecting your mobile device with malicious code; and

Always check the permissions the app requests to ensure those permissions match the features the application claims to provide

Download operating system and app updates promptly; they often contain fixes to security flaws

Be aware of your surroundings when banking; be sure no one is “shoulder surfing” (looking over your shoulder) while you are entering your username and password

Do not bank over public networks; they are NOT secure (you can disable your Wi-Fi and switch to a cellular network for a more secure connection)

Set your Bluetooth device to “undiscoverable” (which will render it invisible to other nearby devices, which could include an attacker’s device)

Disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or infrared interfaces when not in use (these interfaces can be used by nefarious individuals to compromise your mobile device)

Always log out of your mobile banking app after completing your banking business

Before discarding or selling your device, remove all of your information from it

If your mobile device is lost or stolen:

If you’ve enabled features like Find My Phone and remote disable and wipe, use them. If not, notify your mobile provider immediately; the provider can disable the device to protect the information on it

Notify us at 650-488-2512; we can immediately remove the permissions that allow your mobile device to access your accounts

If you use your mobile device for online banking as well as mobile banking, change your online banking password as soon as you can